Plant spraying machine



J. B. KUCERA PLANT SPRAYING MACHINE Aug. 4, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1948 INVENTOR. Jaw pl: i8. jfzzcara Aug. 4, 1953 J. B. KUCERA PLANT SPRAYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1948 INVENTOR for gull-Miami A 8" 3 J. B. KUCERA 2,647,795

PLANT SPRAYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet s IIII/IIIII/IInI/l .iSB

INVENTOR.

Joseph Kzzwra W W I Morn Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLANT SPRAYIN G MACHINE Joseph B. Kucera, Traer, Iowa Application August 7, 1948, Serial No. 43,086

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to plant spraying devices and in particular to a machine for spraying corn and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved plant spraying machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved boom structure for a plant spraying machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spraying machine having a boom structure adjustable for up and down or vertical movement, to spray either short or tall corn, and also adjustable horizontally to accommodate corn planted in rows at varying distances apart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spraying machine having a boom structure comprising two sections supported for relative vertical or up and down movement and connected together by a stabilizing means adapted to maintain the two sections in horizontaly extended positions.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a two section boom structure for a spraying machine in which the boom sections are yieldably held in adjusted positions such that on striking an obstruction, a section is movable to pass about the obstruction and, on passing the obstruction, is automatically returned to its original adjusted position.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a spraying machine in which a two section boom structure has the inner adjacent ends of the two sections movably supported on a carriage or elevator unit for pivotal movement in up and down and horizontal directions. The carriage unit is guidably supported for adjustable up and down movement on an upright frame carried at the rear end of the machine. The sections are movably connected together in a complementary counterbalancing arrangement by a stabilizing means mounted on the carriage unit for maintenance in an adjusted position and for yieldable movement out of such position on striking an obstruction or the like, with the stabilizing means providing for an automatic return of the sections to their adjusted position when the obstruction has been passed.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with I the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the spraying machine of this invention with parts broken away to more clearly show its construction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the boom structure foreshortened;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail view of a carriage unit which forms part of the boom structure in the machine;

Fig. 4 is a foreshortened and enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4--4 in Fig. 2, showing the hoist mechanism for the carriage unit in i 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevational view, as seen on the line 55 in Fig. 2', showing a part of the system for transmitting power to the machine traction wheel;

Fig. 6' is an enlarged sectional view of another part of the power transmission system taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view, as seen on the line 11 in Fig. 2, showing a part of the steering apparatus for the machine;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic showing of the fluid pressure system in the machine;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged foreshortened detail view of the steering apparatus taken on the line 99 in Fig. 2, and having parts broken away for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the boom structure as seen substantially along the line IIHJ in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the boom structure taken on the line |l-ll in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the stabilizing means for the boom sections as seen on the line l2-l2 in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of the boom structure showing changed positions therefor.

With reference to the drawings, the spraying machine of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 as including a main frame, designated generally as l5, comprising a front cross or transverse frame member lfi of a tubular construction, and a rear support member I! of a right angle shape having a horizontally extended leg 58, which constitutes a mounting base for a power unit l9, and an upright leg 2! which serves as a mounting support for a single rear traction Wheel '22. Connected between the front frame member l6 and the forward end of the mounting base l3 are a pair of longitudinally extended tubular frame members 23, inclined upwardly and forwardly from the mounting base and diverging in a forward direction. Arranged at opposite ends of the transverse frame member it are a pair of downwardly projected tubular legs 24, each of which has a shaft 26 rotatably supported therein. The lower ends of the shafts 26 are carrying front steering wheels includes a steering wheel 2e (Figs. 1 and a; carried on a shaft 3! adjustably supported for aria" 5 movement within a tube or sleeve member which is rotatably supported in a bea carried on a frame 3 extended between the longitudinal frame members 23, of the main frarnc H5, at a position rearwardly of the transverse 10 frame member it. Axial adjustment of the shaft 3! is maintained by the provision of a pin insertible through aligned holes formed in the shaft and the sleeve 32. Mounted mnin the front end of the tube or sleeve inein'oer is shaft which carries a pinion gear 36. The forward end 3? of the shaft is rotatable within an up right front bracket member w ich is secured at 39 to the transverse frame An. inverted channel member '7) is supported in a spaced t transverse frame member to by ti e fr 38 and a pair of oppositely arra 42 which are secured at to the the transverse frame 4i constitutes a track in inber for a pair of rollers ins 5?: hich ends which are suitably supported at oppos t rack bar ll, the teeth l? wardly for meshing engage; side of the pinion upper ends of the shafts members 2 5, are forwardly er;u 49 (Figs. 2 and 9). Links are pivota forwardly of a machine operator seat 522 which carried on the longitudina franie a position adjacent their rear ends. removing the pin the rod is l movable in a forward rearward d ecti a position which can be ccnv by the machine operator. On steering wheel 29, to in turn provide tation of the pinion gear 35, the if guidably moved within the channel track s2, 1 gitudinally of the transve se f whereby the front wheel steering sha with the pivot pin at channel track to pern it a ree pivo. ment of the links 55 over the full of the front wheels.

The rear traction wheel is mounted on shaft 53 (Figs. 1 and 5), which is rotat hub or bearing 5% suitably carried on the e side of the upright leg 25 of the rear support and has a portion 59 extended outwardly from such leg. A power transmission system, designated generally as 55, includes a rcckable frame 56 of a substantially inverted U-shape, hat us the lower or free ends of its legs and rotatably supported on the extended portion of the rear wheel shaft 53, with the leg 5%; being carried on a bearing Eli which over the e of the extended shaft portion 5a on between the legs 5? and of the U-frai 1e are a pair of vertically spaced shafts E2 at, with the shaft 63 being positioned above the shaft 62.

Positioned on the lows shaft are sprockets 64 and 56 and a V-belt pulley 37, with the pulley 7* 6'? being arranged between the sprockets it and 6b. The upper shaft 63 carries a sprocket 63 and a combination t -belt pulley and gear unit is including a pair of t -belt pulleys t?) and a gear 'E'l arranged therebetween. A sprocket 72, mounted on the rear wheel shaft is connected through a sprocket chain '53 with the sprocket Ed on the lower shaft The other sprocket (36 on the lower shaft 52 connected through a chain is with the sprodet on the upper shaft 53. ihe shaft 53 functions as a drive shaft for driving the rear wheel 3 aft with the shaft 62 acting as an idler shaft.

The power unit illustrated is commercially available type combustion engine having an engine shaft (F 2) and a ve shaft 73 conected together through a combination speed reduction automatic clutch device, indicated generally at 1'9. end the engine shaft ii carries a V-belt pull y ii which is connected through a belt wit a hydraulic pump 63 forming part o' the spra ng mechanism of the machine this inven The pump (Figs. and 2) is mounted on a base member hat extends between the longitudinal frame members 23 at a position rearwardly of the operators seat The drive shaft is (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) carries a combination unit corresponding to the cornbinaticn unit t on the shaft and includes pair v-bclt p lleys ill having a gear member arranged therebetween. V-belts 85 connect the pulleys ti with the pulleys fit on the shaft 53.

For forward advance of the machine, gears '55 and 853 are out of engagement and the pulleys are connected in a driven relation with the pulleys 8? through the i -belts and the combination unit is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to provide for a corresponding rotation of the rear wheel sprocket l2. When the machine is to be reversed, the U-fraine 5% is pivotally moved or rocked in a forward direction, or to the right, as vi wed in Fig. 1, whereby to move the gear ii into engagement with the gear On movement of the gear i into engagement with the gear 88, the belts are released from frictional engagement with the pulleys and With the gear 88 rotating in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, the gear H is rotated in counter-clockwise direction, also viewed Fig. wheeby the rear wheel sprocket i2 is driven in a reverse or counterclockwise direction. A forward or reverse travel of the machine is thus accomplished in response to a forward and rearward pivotal movement of the U-fraine- This movement of the :33 is accomplished by the provision of means including a longitudinally er nded tubular member 9i (Figs. 1 2) having -ts forward end eccentrically mounted @2 on one of the a1 e members ith bifurcations 223 he le s E i and 58 the LJ-fraLne g 5 The eccentric n10 ng is s peed with actuating handle so, such that when the handle {35 is in its full lin position shown in Fi l, the gears ii and 8% are out of engagement, and on movemerit of the handle 5 to its dotted line posit-i the frame 55 is rocked to move the gears ii an 88 into engagement, as illustrated for the dotted line position of gears in Fig. 6.

The V-belt pulley on the lower or idler shaft 62 constitutes part: of a brake system which ineludes further a V-belt portion 91 (Fig. extended partially about the pulley 61 and having one end 98 attached to a pin 99 extended between the legs 5! and 58 of the U-frame 56, at a position below the idler shaft 62. The other end fill of the brake belt 91 is attached tothe rear end of an actuating rod I02 (Fig. 1) extended through the sleeve member 9I and movably connected with a pivoted handle I93 mounted on the sleeve member 9|. On pivotal movement of the handle I03, the brake belt 9! is moved into and out of frictional engagement with the V-pulley 61 to in turn provide for a braking and release of the rear traction wheel 22.

The spray mechanism of the machine, besides the pump 83, includes a boom structure, designated generally as H5 (Figs. 1, 2 and having two opposed laterally extending boom sections or supports I4I mounted on an elevator or carriage unit I II, which is guidably supported for up and down or vertical movement on an upright frame H6. The frame H6 has a pair of spaced upright angle members H8 supported at their lower ends on a rearward extension H9 for the horizontal leg I3 of the angle shaped support member II. The carriage unit II'I (Figs. 3 and 10) includes a fiat upright plate member I2I arranged to the front side of the frame H3 and provided with forwardly extended top and bottom supports I22 and I23, respectively. E. tended transversely of the plate I2! and welded at the top and bottom thereof are a pair of spacer blocks I2 3 and IE6, respectively, which extend rearwardly between the spaced angle members H8. Rollers I 21 at the rear ends of the spacer blocks I24 and I it are engageable with the rear edges i28 of the angle members H3 whereby to maintain the plate I2! in an upright position for guidable movement vertically of the frame H6.

Extended between the supports I22 and I23 are a pair of oppositely arranged pivot bolts I3 I. Since the two boom sections or supports I4I of the boom structure H5, arranged to opposite sides of the machine, are of a like construction and similarly assembled with the carriage I I1, only one of such boom sections or supports I l! will be described in detail.

Pivotally mounted about a pivot I3I, at a position between the supports I22 and I 23, is a hub member I32 for an upwardly and laterally inclined arm I33. A second hub- I34, mounted on the pivot I3! at a position below the hub I32, carries a. laterally extended arm I33. The adjacent ends of the hubs I32 and I34 are formed with mating cam surfaces I37 and I 38, respectively, which are maintained in engagement by the action of a coil spring I 39 mounted about the pivot I 3| and arranged in compression between the hub I33 and the lower support I23. By virtue of the spring I 39 and the action of the cams I31 and I38, the arms I33 and I36 are biased to normal operatin positions at which they are in a common plane. A boom member support MI, in the form of an angle iron, is pivoted at I35 on an arm member I36 for up and down pivotal movement and forms a support for a fluid carrying tube or pipe I42 arranged within the apex of the support I4I and secured therein by clamping bolts I43 (Figs. 3 and 11) having their heads I44 extended through one leg of the angle member MI, and their shanks receivable in slots I46 formed in the other leg of the boom support or angle member Hi. It is seen, therefore, that the support I4I is pivotally movable in an up and down direction relative to the arm I36 and pivotally movable in a horizontal plane with the arm I36.

The arms I33 are adjustably connected together by the provision of rearward extension members I4'I thereon havingtheir rear ends adjustably connected together by adjustment bar or link units, indicated generally as I 48, for a purpose to appear later. The free or upper end of each arm I33 (Fig. 10) is provided with a swivel pulley I49 for supporting a cable ISI The cable I5I, intermediate its ends, is secured at I52 in a U-clamp member I53 having one leg thereof piv oted at I54 in the upper end of a lever I55, as best shown in Fig. 12. The lower end of the lever I55 is pivoted at I51 on the upper support I22 of the plate member I2 I. The opposite ends of the cable I5I are connected to the inner ends of chain lengths I58, the outer ends of which are attached to hooks I59 carried on the boom supports I4I.

As a result of this assembly of the boom structure, it is seen that the boom supports I4I for the fluid carrying tubes Hi2 are yieldably held against horizontal movement by the action of the springs I39 and cam surfaces I31 and I38. However, in the event a boom support It! strikes an obstruction, such as a post or the like, it is capable of concurrent horizontal and up and down pivotal movement so as to pass by the obstruction. When the vehicle and its upstanding frame 5 I 3 tilts laterally in either direction due to ground irregularities, by virtue of the cable connection I5I between the boom support members I l-I, and the pivoted support of the U-clamp I53 on the pivoted lever I 53, the upward swinging movement of an arm support I33 at one side of the machine permits a downward swinging movement of the arm support I33 at the opposite side of the machine. Likewise a downward pivotal movement of one arm support I33 results in an upward pivotal movement of the other arm support I33. This results in one Of the pulleys I49 running freely on the flexible cable I 5| which tends to remain stationary due to pivoted lever I56 remaining in a vertical position. The U-clamp I53 and pivoted lever I53 thus act as a balancing or stabilizing means for maintaining the boom supports I M in horizontally extended positions, notwithstanding undesired lateral tilting of the vehicle, and the springs I39 and cam surfaces I31 and I38 cooperate to maintain the boom supports MI in the vertical planes of the arms I33.

As previously mentioned, the arms I33 are adjustably connected for pivotal movement toward and away from each other through the extensions I 41 and the adjustment bar or link units I 48. Thus, with reference to Fig. 10, there are illustrated spray nozzles IISI connected with the fluid carrying member or spray pipe I42 and spaced longitudinally thereof. In the spraying of plants, arranged in rows such as corn, the distance between rows in diiferent fields may vary. By initially spacing the nozzles ISI to accommodate the widest anticipated distance between the rows, the boom supports MI are pivotally moved forwardly to adjusted positions, as indicated for one position in dotted lines in Fig. 13, whereby to uniformly decrease the distance between the nozzles transversely of the machine. Spraying of plants in rows at varying distances apart is thus readily accomplished by adjustable movement of the arms I33.

It will be noted that on adjustment of the arms Hit, the boom supports it! are movable therewith and are maintained in the vertical plane of the arms E38 at any adjusted position of the arms E33 by the action of the springs and earn surfaces is? and 138 Further, the cable connection permits a following action of the boom supports it! relative to the arms its and in conjunction with the pivot lever maintains the boom supports in horizontally exte: d positions.

The adjustment and operation of the boom supports Mi is the same for all elevates positions of the carriage unit i ii. A raising and lowering of the carriage unit is accomplished by a hoist mechanism, designated generally as iii"; (Figs. 1 and i), and includes a shaft iii extending 1ongitudinally of the machine and rotatably carried in upright brackets H2 and provided on the frame iiii. Mounted in a '1 position on the shaft iii, and bettvee ets and H3, through a pin connection a tubu' member cable the front bi end to the i front extension Pivoted at i533 on the actuating or the carriage unit iii, there sary to manipulate he i In order to hold the can elevated position, tl'ierc tubular sleeve a downwardly eaten i W" ion terminates in a to receive the crank functions as a stop crank in one o" downward mov However, by v as a of the nrin,

1s yield ly In it As a res depending silient crap shock tran tion or A .iitaoie d t? from 2. oil

l) ..&1 frame lfiEilllQ-o- '"y below the rnach is top oi the l 0 feet by the pump and i T-conn. vided the boom sup adjacent ends a single inlet line 2 33 connected with the bypass valveunit its through a flexible connection 25% and a pipe section 256. The pipe section 2%, pipe Hi l and the pipe Hi3 are provided with valves 2% and respectively. When fluid under pressure is to be supplied to the nozzles iti, the valve 209 is closed and the valves 28'. and 2&3 are opened, with the bypass valve unit i533 acting to liroit the maximum -essure of the fluid supplied to the nozzles. 'ttiien fluid is to be talzen into the reservoir iti from a barrel or the like, the valves 28'? and are closed and the valve is opened. By attaching a flexible connection to the pipe for insertion into the barrel of the enters the pump through the pipe and is then discharged into the reservoir 5 through the bypass valve unit s and opened.

From a consideration of the above description, it is seen that the invention provides a spraying machine or" a simple and compact construction, \v h is fully operated by the machine operator While in a seated position. The boom structure lid is adjustable in an up and down or vertical direction to provide for the spraying of corn and the like of varying heights, with the boom supports Eel being flexibly or yieldably mounted to move in response to the striking of an obstruction or the like, and then through the stabilizing action of the pivoted clamp it; and pivot lever I55, automatically returned to horizontally extended positions. Further, the boom supports Mi, through the action of the springs :39 and cam st are always yieldabl mintained in their adjusted positions, as determined by the adjustment of the bar or link units hi8. Further, the machine is readily maneuverable and under full control of the machine operator at all times.

Although the invention has been described With respect to a preie red embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes can be made therein which are Within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a spraying machine including a portable frame, a boom structure including an upright ira-rne adjacent one end of said portable frame, a carriage member supported for adjustable vertical movement on said upright frame, means for raising and lowering said carriage member to an adjusted position, a pair of boom sections extended laterally in opposite directions from said carriage member, means on said carriage memher for pivotally supporting the inner ends of said boom sections thereon for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, separate means on said carriage member spaced laterally outwardly from said first mentioned pivotal support means for pivotally supporting the inner ends of said boom sections for independent swinging movement in a vertical plane, and stabilizing means connected between said boom sections and carriage member to provide for a relative vertical pivotal movement of said boom sections to maintain said boom sections in horizontally extended positions.

2. In a spraying machine including a portable frame, a boom structure including an upright frame mounted on said portable frame, a carriage member supported for vertical movement on said upright frame, means for vertically moving said carriage member, means for yieldably holdingsaid carriage member in adjusted position on said upright frame, a pair of oppositely arranged boom sections movably mounted on said carriage member for pivotal movement in horizontal and vertical planes, means on said carriage member for adjusting said boom sections in the horizontal plane of movement therefor, and means on said carriage member for yieldably and independently maintaining the boom sections in said horizontally adjusted positions.

3. In a spraying machine having a portable frame, a boom structure including an upright frame mounted on said portable frame, a carriage member mounted for vertical movement on said upright frame, a pair of oppositely arranged boom sections movably mounted on said carriage member and extending transversely of said partable frame, means supporting the inner adjacent ends of said boom sections on said carriage member for pivotal up and down and horizontal movement, means for yieldably maintaining said boom sections in horizontally adjusted positions therefor, means for yieldably maintaining said boom sections in said horizontally extended positions including a flexible member having its opposite ends connected with said boom sections intermediate the ends thereof, means pivoted on said carriage member for pivotal movement transversely of said portable frame, and means for securing the intermediate portion of said flexible member to said pivoted means.

4. In a spraying machine having a portable frame, a boom structure including an upright frame mounted adjacent one end of said portable frame, a carriage member supported on said upright frame for vertical movement thereon, a pair of oppositely arranged boom sections mounted on said carriage member, means for raising and lowering said carriage member including a drum rotatably supported adjacent the upper end of said upright frame, means for rotating said drum, a flexible member windable on said drum and having one end attached to said carriage member, and a resilient stop means on said upright frame adapted t releasably engage said drum rotating means to yieldably hold said carriage member in vertically adjusted position On said upright frame.

5. In a spraying machine having a portable frame, a boom structure including an upright frame carried on said portable frame, a carriage member adjustably supported for vertical movement on said upright frame, a pair of oppositely arranged boom sections pivotally supported at their inner adjacent ends on said carriage member for independent swinging movement in horizontal and vertical planes, means on said carriage member for yieldably maintaining said boom sections in horizontally adjusted positions, and means on said carriage member for independently adjusting the positions of said boom sections in their horizontal plane of swinging movement.

6. In a spraying machine having a portable frame having an upright frame member thereon, a boom structure including a boom supporting carriage movably supported on said upright frame section for vertical movement thereon, a pair of oppositely disposed transversely extended boom sections having their inner adjacent ends pivotally mounted at spaced localities on said carriage to provide for independent vertical and horizontal swinging movement of said boom sections on said carriage, and flexible stabilizing means connected to said boom sections and rigidly concarriage member.

8. In a spraying apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, a pair of spray boom sections mounted for vertical swinging movement on said vehicle, a boom suspension member mounted above each boom section, a pivotally movable anchor mounted between said boom suspension members, and a cable-like support element having its opposite outer ends respectively attached to said boom sections and having intermediate portions anti-frictionally engaging said boom suspension members and secured substantially centrally to said movable anchor to provide equalized balanced support for said boom sections on said vehicle.

9. In a spraying apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, a pair of spray boom sections adapted to be mounted for vertical swinging movement on said vehicle, a boom suspension member mounted above each boom section, a movable anchor mounted between said boom suspension members, and a cable-like support element having its outer ends attached to said boom sections and an intermediate portion passing over said boom suspension members to engage said movable anchor to provide equalized balanced support for said boom sections on said vehicle, said movable anchor comprising a link pivoted on said vehicle at one end and engaging said support element at its other end.

10. In a spraying apparatus adapted to be mounted on a frame, a spray boom having an inner hub portion pivotally mounted on said frame, boom suspension means including a laterally extending arm having an inner hub portion pivotally mounted on said frame above said spray boom hub for supporting said boom, said boom and arm hub portions having cooperatively engaging spring pressed cam surfaces to yieldably hold said boom beneath said boom suspension means arm in co-planar relation thereto.

11. In a spraying apparatus, a frame including a vertically disposed pin, a spray boom pivotally mounted on said pin, boom suspension means mounted on said pin adjacent said spray boom, cooperating cam surfaces on said boom and said suspension means, and a resilient element urging said surfaces together whereby said boom is yieldably held beneath said suspension means.

12. In a spraying apparatus for mounting on a vehicle, the combination of an upstanding frame member having a carriage supported for vertical movement thereon, means for vertically moving said carriage on said frame member, a pair of spray boom section arms having angularly extending extensions at their inner ends mounted in opposing endwise relation and pivoted on said carriage for horizontal swinging movement with respect thereto, a plurality of spray nozzles mounted in spaced relation on said arms, and means comprising a plurality of relatively movable cooperating links secured at their opposite ends to said carriage and to said boom arm extensions respectively for angularly adjusting said boom arms relative to each other and to the longitudinal center line of said vehicle, thereby t0 vary proportionately theseparation of said nozzles from each other in a direction normal to said center line.

JOSEPH B. KUCERA.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 Kenison May 1, 1900 Williams July 5, 192'? Smith Aug. 21, 1934 Pitner Nov. 12,1940

Numk-er Number 

